Course Syllabus

Introduction to Organizational Behavior

_________________________________________
Course Information
Course Number/Section BA 3361-001
Course Title Introduction to Organization Behavior
Term Spring 2009
Days & Times Tuesdays & Thursdays 10:00-11:15

Professor Contact Information

Professor Monty Evans, Ph.D.
Office Phone: 214-648-4339
Email Address hme081000@utdallas.edu
Hm.evans@utsouthwestern.edu
Office Location SOM 4.207
Office Hours Tuesdays 3:45-4:30 and by
appointment
Other Information The quickest way to contact me is through WebCT
email. In order to schedule a phone appointment,
email me through WebCT to set up a time.

Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the field of Organizational Behavior from the
perspective of a manager. The course will cover organizational behavior and the basic
managerial process of making things happen; meeting the competition; organizing
people, projects, and processes; and leading. Prerequisites: none.

Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

Describe team processes and explain the characteristics associated with effective team
performance;

Apply ethical and value-related issues as they relate to human behavior in organizations
to making ethical and responsible decisions;

Explain and apply theoretical and scholarly approaches, empirical findings, and historical
trends in Organizational Behavior;

Explain how diversity and multiculturalism affects the workplace environment and
develop some strategies to bridge differences to capitalize on the benefits of
multiculturalism;
Explain and apply the multicultural aspects and international dimensions of the societies
and world in which we live and be familiar with knowledge and methods necessary to
deal with related problems;

Describe the leadership skills needed to be an effective manager, including motivating

employees and managing communication.

Methods of Learning
A variety of techniques will be used to enhance your learning for this course. These
include lecture, discussion, exams, video cases, individual assignments and Internet
research. You are expected to come to every session having completed your reading and/
or other assignments.

Course Evaluation
You will have several opportunities to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of
the principles taught in this course. Though much of the learning is actually achieved
in class, you are expected to complete certain assignments before class and to turn in
outside assignments on time. Maximum point values are as follows:

Test One (50 questions) 100 points

Test Two (50 questions) 100 points
(Ethics and Multiculturalism)
Test Three (50 questions) 100 points
Test Four (50 questions) 100 points
Test Five (50 questions) 100 points
Extra Credit In-Class Exercise (TBA) (25 points)
Total 500 points

Your grade will be determined as follows:

A= 450-500 points
B= 400-449 points
C= 350-399 points
D= 300-349 points
F= Below 300 points

These grade point totals are firm boundaries. Decimal points

will not be rounded off upward.

Required Textbook
Management (fifth edition), Chuck Williams
Course Schedule
January 13 Course Introduction
January 15 Ch. 1 Management
January 20 Ch. 2 History of Management
January 22 Ch. 3 Organizational Environments and Cultures
January 27 Ch. 3 Organizational Environments and Cultures

January 29 Test One over Ch. 1-3

February 3 Ch. 4 Ethics and Social Responsibility

February 5 Ch. 12 Managing Individuals and a Diverse Work Force

February 10 Test Two over Ch. 4, 12

(Ethics and a Culturally Diverse Work Force)

February 12 Ch. 5 Planning and Decision Making

February 17 Ch. 5 Planning and Decision Making
February 19 Ch. 6 Organizational Strategy
February 24 Ch. 6 Organizational Strategy
February 26 Ch. 7 Innovations and Change

March 3 Test Three over Ch. 5-7

March 5 Ch. 8 Global Management

March 10 Ch. 9 Designing Adaptive Organizations
March 12 Ch. 9 Designing Adaptive Work Organizations
March 17 Spring Break
March 19 Spring Break
March 24 Ch. 10 Managing Teams
March 26 Ch. 10 Managing Teams
March 31 Ch. 11 Managing Human Resources
April 2 Ch. 11 Managing Human Resources

April 7 Test Four over 8-11

April 9 Ch. 13 Motivation

April 14 Ch. 13 Motivation
April 16 Ch. 14 Leadership
April 21 Ch. 14 Leadership
April 23 Ch. 14-15 Leadership & Communication
April 28 Ch. 15 Communication
April 30 Ch. 15 Communication

May 12 Final Test Five over 13-15

Student Conduct & Discipline

The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and
regulations for the orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the responsibility of
each student and each student organization to be knowledgeable about the rules and
regulations which govern student conduct and activities. General information on student
conduct is contained in the student publication, A to Z Guide, which is provided to all
registered students each academic year.

The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of
recognized and established due process. Procedures are defined and described in the
Rules and Regulations, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Part 1,
Chapter VI, Section 3, and in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities of the
university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures. Copies of these rules and regulations
are available to students in the Office of Dean of Students, where staff members are
available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-
6391).

A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of
citizenship. He or she is expected to obey federal, state, and local laws as well as
Regents’ Rules, university regulations, and administrative rules. Students are subject to
discipline for violating the standards of conduct whether such conduct whether such
conduct takes place on or off campus, or whether civil or criminal penalties are also
imposed for such conduct.

Academic Integrity

The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic honesty.
Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the
work done by the student for that degree, it is imperative that a student demonstrate a
high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic work.

Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts of omission related
to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/ or the submission as one’s
own work or material that is not one’s own. As a general rule, scholastic dishonesty
involves one of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/ or falsifying
academic records. Students suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary
proceedings.

Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from
any other source is unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university’s policy on
plagiarism (see general catalog for details). This course will use the resources of
turnitin.com, which searches the web for possible plagiarism and is over 90% effective.

Email Use

The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of communication
between faculty/ staff and students through electronic mail. At the same time, email
raises some issues concerning security and the identity of each individual in an email
exchange. The university encourages all official student email correspondence to be sent
only to a student’s U.T. Dallas email address and that faculty and staff consider email
from student’s official only if it originates from a UTD student account. This allows the
university to maintain a high degree of confidence in the identity of all individual
corresponding and the security of the transmitted information. UTD furnishes each
student with a free email account that is to be used in all communication with university
 personnel. The Department of Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method
for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to other accounts.

Withdrawal from Class

The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-level
courses. These dates and times are published in that semester’s course catalog.
Administration procedures must be followed. It is the student’s responsibility to handle
withdrawal requirements for any class. In other words, I cannot drop or withdraw any
student. You must do the proper paperwork to ensure that you will not receive a final
grade of “F” in a course if you choose not to attend the class once you are enrolled.

Student Grievance Procedures

Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services and
activities, of the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures.

In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other

fulfillments of academic responsibility, it is the obligation of the student first to make a
serious effort to resolve the matter with the instructor, supervisor, administrator, or
committee with whom the grievance originates (hereafter called “the respondent”).
Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility for assigning grades and
evaluations. If the matter cannot be resolved at that level, the grievance must be
submitted in writing to the respondent with a copy of the respondent’s School Dean. If
the matter is not resolved by the written response provided by the respondent, the
student may submit a written appeal to the School Dean. If the grievance is not resolved
by the School Dean’s decision, the student may make a written appeal to the Dean of
Graduate or Undergraduate Education, and the dean will appoint and convene and
Academic Appeals Panel. The decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final. The
results of the academic appeals process will be distributed to all involved parties.

Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean
of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules
and regulations.

Incomplete Grade Policy

As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work unavoidably
missed at the semester’s end and only if 70% of the course work has been completed.
An incomplete grade must be resolved within eight (8) weeks from the first day of the
subsequent long semester. If the required work to complete the course and to remove
the incomplete grade is not submitted by the specified deadline, the incomplete grade is
changed automatically to a grad of F.

Disability Services

The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational

opportunities equal to those of their non-disabled peers. Disability Services is located in
room 1.610 of the Student Union. Office hours are Monday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to
6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to
5:30 p.m.

The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is:

The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22

PO Box 830688
 Richardson TX 75083-0688
(972) 883-2098 (voice or TTY)

Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable
adjustments necessary to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability. For example,
it may be necessary to remove classroom prohibitions against tape recorders or animals
(in the case of dog guides) for students who are blind. Occasionally an assignment
requirement may be substituted (for example, a research paper versus an oral
presentation for a student who is hearing impaired). Classes enrolled students with
mobility impairments may have to be rescheduled in accessible facilities. The college or
university may need to provide special services such as registration, note-taking, or
mobility assistance.

It is the student’s responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such and
accommodation. Disability Services provides students with letters to present to faculty
members to verify that the student has a disability and needs accommodations.
Individuals requiring special accommodation should contact the professor after class or
during office hours.

Religious Holy Days

The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required
activities for the travel to and observance of a religious holy day for a religion whose
places of worship are exempt from property tax under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas
Code Annotated.

The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as possible
regarding the absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. The student, so
excused, will be allowed to take the exam or complete the assignment within a
reasonable time after the absence a period equal to the length of the absence, up to a
maximum of one week. A student who notifies the instructor and completes any missed
exam or assignment may not be penalized for the absence. A student who fails to
complete the exam or assignment within the prescribed period may receive a failing
grade for that exam or assignment.

If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e., for the
purpose of observing a religious holy day] or if there is similar disagreement about
whether the student has been given a reasonable time to complete any missed
assignments or examinations, either the student or the instructor may request a ruling
from the chief executive officer of the institution, or his or her designee. The chief
executive officer or designee must take into account the legislative intent of TEC
51.911(b), and the student and instructor will abide by the decision of the chief executive
officer or designee.

Off-Campus Instruction and Course Activities

Off-campus, out-of-state, and foreign instruction and activities are subject to state law
and University policies and procedures regarding travel and risk-related activities.
Information regarding these rules and regulations may be found at the website address
given below. Additional information is available from the office of the school dean.
(http://www.utdallas.edu/BusinessAffirs/Travel_Risk_Activities.htm)

*These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the
Professor.